Over 500, 000 youth and ‘youth at heart’ attended the Woodstock music festival in 1969. Held on a 600-acre farm in Bethel, New York, from 15th to 18th August, the event went down in history as one of music’s most luminous highlights. Its slogan “Three days of peace and music” captured the essence of harmonic union at a time when the ideals of one love, equality, freedom and social justice were exploding with a revolutionary force. Female artists, represented by legends - Janis Joplin, Joan Baez and Melanie - were among the 32 acts that gathered together in one of the greatest assemblies of musical talent ever known.
Joan Baez Swings Low
Joan Baez added a touch of serenity to end the fiery first day of Woodstock 1969. Included in her performance was a haunting rendition of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and a speech about the arrest of her husband. The other songs included in her set-list were “Joe Hill”, “Sweet Sir Galahad”, “Drug Store Truck Driving Man” and “We Shall Overcome”.
Janis Joplin’s Kozmic Blues
Janis Joplin’s set-list at Woodstock 1969 included her hits “Piece of My Heart”, “Summertime” and “Ball and Chain”. Backed by a new band named Kozmic Blues Band, the legend’s performance at Woodstock was not her strongest, owing to a heroin addiction that had taken its toll on her health. Janis Joplin lost her battle with life in 1970.
Melanie’s Beautiful People
Melanie Safka performed her single “Beautiful People” at Woodstock 1969 and attracted a cult following that propelled her to stardom. Her follow-up single “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” released in 1970, sold more than a million copies, earning her the distinction of being named ‘female vocalist of the year’ by Billboard, Melody Maker, Cashbox, Record World and Bravo. Melanie’s inspiration for writing the song had to do with the candles and cigarette lighters that greeted her from the audience as she appeared on stage at the overcast event.
Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock
Legendary singer-songwriter, Joni Mitchell, while not in attendance at Woodstock 1969, became entwined in its history with her haunting song “Woodstock”. Released in 1970 on her album, Ladies of the Canyon, the song captured the essence of the large gathering and its hopes and aspirations for love and peace.
Janis Joplin, Joan Baez and Melanie will forever remain a part of Woodstock history and the latter will forever remain a highlight in theirs. Subsequent Woodstock festivals held in 1994 and 1999, while pale in comparison to the original Woodstock in 1969, have had their fair share of female representation in the form of Sisters of Glory, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Jewel and Alanis Morrissette among others.
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